Yosemite national park

First trip to the Yosemite in September and am looking for some advice. We are coming down from Napa Valley and are looking to spend 3 Nights in the park, can anyone recommend which areas to stay in,do you stay central and move around from there,what sights are good to visit, finally any hotel recommendations?,
Thanks..

Hi Martin, Its a few years since we went and it was one of the best holidays we had. Don't know what you are into we are middle aged but managed to do a lot of walking and hiking.

We stayed just outside the park as we like our comforts, its too wild for us to be in the park but if that floats your boat there are numerous campsites but you have to book up early. WE stayed in the River View Inn and it was right on the gushing river, lots of wildlife to see just out side the entrance. Its gets very busy so if outside you will need to be there early to join the queue.

There are lots of websites to go on for info, if coming in a car you can travel round to all the view points then get out and do your thing, we hiked to the waterfall, saw the massive redwoods, El Capitan of course we managed to fill three days. WE did go in May as you get the winter run off with spectacular waterfalls and spring meadows. You will have a wonderful time, enjoy. Linda

[Darren Wheeler]

I would say that after the recent winters and in September, don't expect to see much water anywhere in the park. especially the waterfalls. Even after a 200% snow pack by September there is hardly a trickle.

Hi there,

I was in Yosemite two weeks ago, it is a truly beautiful place to visit, we spent a couple of nights at a friends house in Pine Mountain which is about a 30 minute drive to the park gate.

As Darren said California is going through a very dry period so the waterfalls won't be as spectacular as you might expect.

The Ahwahnee Hotel is a great looking place to take a look around and no doubt is a great place to stay right in the Park.

We went in september and the falls were dry but the whole place was spectacular, we stayed on site but this may be booked up already

We're also going to Yosemite in September! We've booked two nights at the Lodge at the Falls. The location looks perfect being in the heart of the park, although it's not cheap at just over $300 per night. I saw some pictures of their bar and found the bar menu online, and I must admit I was impressed by their range of American Whiskeys and craft beers.

As we're driving from Carmel, the night before Yosemite we're staying in Fresno (used Marriott points to pay for the room) with the intention of heading to the park early.

It's actually worked out that we'll enter the park on Saturday 26th September, which is apparently National Public Lands Day and it's free access to all US national parks (http://www.nps.gov/findapark/feefreeparks.htm), so that'll save us a few dollars.

@doomwolf: It will save you $30 (it's just gone up from $20 I believe) and my advice is this: get there early as anytime after 0900am on that day, or on a public holiday weekend, the queues to get into the park can be immense. I was driving out one public holiday weekend and the queue to get in was 3 miles. The Lodge is good and I am sure you will like it.

As for the Ahwahnee - definitely worth a wander around and dinner and/or lunch there. The pizza patio at Curry Village in the evening is good too. I am not keen on the buffet at Curry Village though so would not recommend that.

@OP - I would try and stay in the park if possible, Yosemite Lodge is good, Ahwahnee is best, Curry Village hard sided cabins are OK (I used to really enjoy them but got older and decided my days of roughing it are over!). Don't be despondent if there is nothing available as persistence is the key and if you ring up you may get a cancellation. Their cancellation policy is, I think, 72 hours without penalty and a lot of people leave it right up to the wire to cancel so I would start calling daily from about a week out, and about once/twice a week from now until then. We have always had success doing that.

The NPS website for YNP has some good info to help you plan: http://www.nps.gov/yose/index.htm
Glacier Point, Olmstead Point, Tenaya Lake, Tuolomne Meadows, as well as all the Yosemite Valley Floor normal stuff, is well worth it. If you have a small pair of binos then take them to watch the climbers on El Capitan if there are any while you are there.

We stayed at the Wawona hotel, which is inside the park but at the south end, so you might find that a hotel outside the park is as good and is cheaper with more facilities. Still, it was nice to stay at a historic hotel and not have to use the car, just park it up for a couple of days.

Thanks for the advice Silver Fox, we'll certainly look to get there nice and early and hopefully beat the queues.

We stayed at the Yosemite View Lodge. It was just outside the park and an easy and quick drive. Go for a river view room, lovely little balcony overlooking the river. The hotel isn't fancy but it's clean, with good sized rooms and a reasonable price. We went in August last year and Yosemite falls was dry but Vernal Falls was still flowing. We walked/hiked to the foot bridge and the base and it was well worth the effort. Yosemite is breathtaking, I'm sure you'll have a fab time even if the falls are dry.

We are going in Sept, too (22-25th)! After much deliberation we have booked the stone cottage in Curry Village due to the location and the fact that I won't need to camp! We booked about 5 months ago and we got it for USD199 plus tax, which is pretty good for Yosemite I believe

We are also going in September! 19-22nd. Is this an unofficial V-flyer convention?! Staying at the Yosemite Lodge at the Falls as part of a bigger road trip. Excited!

We booked in February and had to move our dates to fit in with availability. Must be all the other people on this site taking up all the rooms!

I'm going to Staying at Tenaya Lodge 5th-8th September.

-Steve

What is your view on Early April - will there be too much snow to do much?

We are also going in September! 19-22nd. Is this an unofficial V-flyer convention?! Staying at the Yosemite Lodge at the Falls as part of a bigger road trip. Excited!

We booked in February and had to move our dates to fit in with availability. Must be all the other people on this site taking up all the rooms!

We're also going as part of a larger road trip of northern California. San Francisco > San Jose > Carmel > Fresno > Yosemite > Lake Tahoe (plus visit Carson City & Reno over the border in Nevada) > Sacramento > Napa > San Francisco. I love my US road trips!

What is your view on Early April - will there be too much snow to do much?

On the valley floor there will likely be none. Glacier Point Road and Tioga Road will most likely be closed unless there is some very exceptional weather pattern in April and it really isn't likely.

This gives some details about spring in Yosemite: http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/spring.htm

I'm going to Staying at Tenaya Lodge 5th-8th September.

-Steve

Labor Day weekend won't half be busy !

it was a few years ago but we stayed at Tenaya Lodge. still remember it with fond memories. best breakfasts and no issues with being outside of the Park.

Staying at Tenaya lodge in a few weeks, looking forward to it.

There hasn't been much snow this winter and the Glacier Point Road opened a few weeks ago, pretty much the earliest it has ever opened but most years it is well into May before it opens. I guess I am lucky!

I'm going to Staying at Tenaya Lodge 5th-8th September.

-Steve

Labor Day weekend won't half be busy !

Totally forgot that, may have to rethink plans

-Steve

What is your view on Early April - will there be too much snow to do much?

On the valley floor there will likely be none. Glacier Point Road and Tioga Road will most likely be closed unless there is some very exceptional weather pattern in April and it really isn't likely.

This gives some details about spring in Yosemite: http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/spring.htm

We went in April a couple of years ago and were advised to have chains for our RV Thankfully when we arrived (after closely monitoring the weather forecast) we were met with sunshine and a little ground snow but nothing to affect our plans Such a beautiful, heavenly place